Part 1 – The hype is real, but what exactly is Microsoft 365 Copilot?

Time is special. As humans, we want to spend time doing the stuff we love and not on tedious activities. If you could calculate how much time you are wasting a day, what would it add up to? We spend our time and energy on tasks that take up our entire working day. There has to be a more efficient way to balance out our tasks and create shortcuts. Microsoft have the answer.  

Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot – Microsoft’s own AI assistant, integrated into every Microsoft 365 app to become the most powerful productivity tool on the planet. 

As a Microsoft Gold Partner, here at inTEC we can help prepare you for the release of Copilot. 

How can Copilot be used?  

There will be two ways in which Copilot can be used. The first way is by collaborating seamlessly with you. It’s integrated into your everyday Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and more. Consequently, it will unleash creativity, boost productivity and elevate skills to new heights.

The second way Copilot can be used will be known as ‘Business Chat’. Business Chat will be integrated into the Microsoft 365 apps, allowing your data (calendar, emails, chats, documents, meetings, and contacts) to do things you’ve never been able to do before. For example, you can give it natural language prompts such as ‘Send an update on today’s stats’ and it will develop a response based on the meetings, emails, and chat threads. 

Whenever you click on a new icon in the window taskbar, it will open a sidebar window where you can type in requests. By asking Copilot, you can adjust any setting. You can ask it to turn on dark mode and start a focus session. Moreover, you can drag and drop files into the Copilot window and have it summarise any results.

How could YOUR organisation benefit from Microsoft 365 Copilot?

> Enhance creativity   

Do you ever stare at a blank document and have no idea where to start? Do you often face a creative block? No problem, now that Copilot is embedded in Microsoft Word, it will provide you with a first draft that can be edited to become the perfect piece of work. Indeed, this saves huge amounts of time, as you don’t need to be writing, sourcing and editing all the way from the start. It wouldn’t always be the perfect piece, but one guarantee it will give is a very good draft and a head start. With Copilot in PowerPoint, it crafts stunning presentations that become possible in one click. With a single prompt, it intelligently incorporates relevant content from documents you’ve created in the past. You can also analyse trends and create professional looking data graphics in seconds with Copilot in Excel. 

> Unlock productivity

As stated in Microsoft’s official blog, ‘80% of our time is consumed with busy work that bogs us down’. Copilot in Outlook expedites the process of sorting through lengthy email conversations and swiftly formulating suggested responses, allowing you to tackle your inbox in a matter of minutes instead of hours. In Teams, Copilot can summarise key discussion points and add who said what and who disagreed, all done in real time during the meeting. With Copilot in the Power Platform, even non-technical users can streamline repetitive tasks, build chatbots and transform ideas into functional applications within minutes.

With business chat, it can be accessible from Microsoft 365.com, from Bing whenever you’re signed in with your work account or from Teams. Business Chat efficiently integrates with your entire range of business data and applications, effectively extracting the essential information and valuable insights you require from a vast pool of data. This seamless flow of knowledge throughout the organisation eliminates the need for time-consuming searches, allowing you to save valuable time while accessing the answers you seek. 

Copilot enhances your existing skills, empowering you to excel further in your areas of expertise, while also enabling you to swiftly master new knowledge and skills that you have yet to acquire.  

> Tighten security

Copilot is equipped with a range of security features, including two-factor authentication, compliance boundaries and robust privacy protections. These measures are in place to safeguard your interactions with Copilot, ensuring the utmost security and confidentiality of your information. 

Above, you can see how Copilot is integrated into the browser’s sidebar and can remain active while you still scroll.   

When does Copilot launch and how much will it cost? 

Copilot is available in preview now to beta testers. It will be available to the general public later this year. To read more on the pricing please click the button below. 

If you have any questions about Microsoft Copilot, Power Apps, Microsoft updates, training or implementation – Mark Armstrong is the guy to contact! Give our Head of Modern Workplace a call on 0345 565 1767 or email mark.armstrong@intecbusiness.co.uk

Alternatively, you can book a meeting directly with Mark.